Bowling alley



1946- c. w. HARTWIG BOWLING ALLEY Filed Aug. 5, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 m8 aux R 1 Q. v 0 Q\ W L m Q? 8\ Q m Y a 4 km iii-51:11.-- s I... II b v k. Q o E N .f f 0 Nov. 26, 1946. c. w. HARTWIG BOWLING ALLEY Filed Aug. 5, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 26, 1946..

C. W. HARTWIG BOWLING ALLEY Filed Aug. 5, 1943 I '7 Sheets-Sheet s Nov. 26, 1946. c. w. HARTWIG BOWLING ALLEY Filed Aug. s, 1943 7 sheets-sneak 4 Nov. 26, 1946. c, w, HARTW|G I Y 2,411,789

' BOWLING ALLEY Filed Aug. 5, 1943 "7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I II/111A A Nov. 26, 1946. c. WQHA RTWIG BOWLING ALLEY '7 Sheets-S meet 7 Filed Aug. 5, 1943 =%A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Nl v x Patented Nov. 26, Km

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enemas 7 home my @harles W. fiartwig, New York, N. Y. Application August 5, 19%, Serial No. @7393 My invention relates to a mechanical ball game apparatus and more particularly to a miniature bowling alley game apparatus as is shown and .described in my copending application Serial Number 255,506, filed February 9, 1939, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

It is important in the playing of any bowling alley game that the pins be precisely set up in accordance with the accepted or standard geometrical arrangement, if the game is to be fair to all of the players involved and the score is to be commensurate with the skill of the player. It will be understood, therefore, that it is desirable to eliminate the human element in the setting up and arranging of the pins as well as to all other mechanical operations of the game in order to insure the same setting of the pins and operations of the parts to all players. It is therefore an object of this invention to faithfully accomplish these results.

A further objectof'my invention isto provide a bowling alley game apparatus having a ball propelling means mounted for transverse slidable adjustment relative to one end of the alley with means to deliver a ball to operative position by the propelling means in all transverse adjusted positions thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ball propelling means for a bowling alley game apparatus having a pivotal mounting at one end adapted for transverse sliding movement relative to the alley and means operative to deliver a ball to the pivotal mounting of the propelling means at all transverse slidable positions thereof.

Another object of my invention'is to provide ball return and mechanically operated ball delivery means associated therewith in a bowling alley game apparatus having means under the joint control of the delivery means and the ball propelling means for selectively releasing returned balls for transfer to said delivery means upon each actuation of the apparatus.

Still another object of my invention is to provide amechanically operated bowling alley game apparatus having means to automatically deliver balls to a propelling means adjacent one end of a? ing balls along the alley toward the pins, actuating means associated with both of said means for automatically operating the pin setting meanson alternate actuations thereof and including balldelivery means operable on each actuation thereof to deliver or withhold a ball, depending upon a previous actuation of the ball propelling means, so that in the event of a strike, where only a single actuation of the ball propelling means is required for a frame, the pins may be reset by a successive operations of the actuating means without delivering more than one ball to the ball propelling means.

A still further object of my. invention is to provide a bowling alley game apparatus which is fully automatic, simple and foolproof in construction and which includes a mechanical pin setting device in conjunction with a mechanical-bail propelling, returning and delivering apparatus all g the alley, with means operable on the delivery of a predetermined number of balls for rendering the delivery means inoperable no matter how many times the propelling means is operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mechanical bowling alley apparatus having a mechanical pin setting means at one end ofthe alley floor, .a mechanical ball propelling means at the opposite end of the alley floor for projectunder the control of a single actuating, means.

Other objects and-advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my miniature bowling alley game apparatus, with the outer supporting casing removed and with certain portions of the operating mechanism shown in dotted lines while other portions are shown in sections to illustrate generally the relationship of the parts. v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of the game apparatus taken adjacent to the forward or operating end thereof to illustrate the transverse slidable relation of the inner pivoted ball propelling mechanism with respect to the ball delivery mechanism, at the forward end of the alley. v

Fig. 3 is aside elevational view of the forward portion of the game apparatus shown in Fig. '2, with certain of the supporting frame members broken away and with portions of the ball elevat-.

ing in the direction of th arrows to show the] common drivingmechanism for the ball elevat ing and delivery mechanism and the pin setting up mechanism with the manual and automatic controls for these cooperating mechanisms. 1

Fig.5 is a further enlarged fragmentary view of the manually operable ball propelling means with portions thereof shown in elevation and, others in section to illustrate the relation of the pivotal mounting of the propelling-means to slidable support and the ball delivery means for p ay.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the position of the parts when the mechanism has been rendered operative, and the manual control switch has been operated to elevate a ball to deliver the same to the propelling means, not shown.

Fig. 9 is another view of the mechanism shown in Fig. '7 with the parts in the position that they will assume when the ball elevating means has returned to normal operating position from the position shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a still further view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7 showing the positions of parts when the plunger of the ball propelling means, shown in detail in Fig. and in combination in Fig. 3, is pressed inwardly to propel the ball delivered by movement of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 8 and Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the ball dispensing means illustrated in Figs. '7 to inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a supporting base or chassis for the mechanism which is composed mainly of vertically spaced longitudinally extending channel irons l0 and H to which a plurality of similar cross members l2. upright members l3 and front plate H are rigidly secured to form an open sided box-like frame, that is generally rectangular in shape. In practice this supporting frame would be housed within an ornamental and protecting enclosure or casing of a desired shape such as that suggested in Fig. 1, of my copending application Serial No. 255,506, filed Feb. 9, 1939, of which this application is a continuation-impart.

Extending horizontally between and secured to the upper longitudinal chassis members i I, is the game board or alley floor I 5, of the bowling game apparatus forming the subject matter of this application.

As is shown in dotted lines in Fig; 1, the playingpins l6 occupy predetermined positions on the tion, above identified, the power operating mechanism A includes an electric motor M, on the rotary shaft of which is mounted a driving pulley l1, having a peripheral friction face adapted to drive a flexible shaft l8, having worm gearing l9,

by'frictional engagement of the pulley l'l with the periphery of a friction wheel 26 mounted on one end of the flexible shaft. This power operating mechanism also includes a transversely ex- 4 tending shaft 2i, which is rotatably mounted at its ends in a pair of the uprights l3 on opposite sides of the frame so as to extend there beyond. A single lobe cam 22 and a double lobe cam 23 are mounted on the opposite extending ends of this shaft 2| with which bell crank levers 24 and 25 respectively, cooperate to drive the pin setting means B and ball return and control means C,

I in definite timed relationship.

In order to provide independent control of the motor M and the driven flexible shaft IE to insure properly timed starting and stopping of the associated mechanisms fo automatic control of thepin operating means at one end of the alley floor and the ball returmng means at the opposite end of the alley, the end of the flexible shaft I8 which carries the friction wheel 20 is mounted in a rocking bracket 26 so that it may be moved to and from the driving pulley II. The pivotal mounting 21 of the bracket 26, and the base of the motor M are both mounted on one of the cross members [2 of the frame as is also a fixed friction brake membe 28 against which the friction wheel 20' is normallyheld. Thus in the normal inoperative position of these parts the friction wheel 26 is held stationary and out of engagement with the pulley II, oy the weight biased armature 29 of an electric relay 30, to one end of which armature the upper end of the rocking bracket is operatively connected by means of a resilient connecting leve 3|. 1 When the relay is energized to retract its armature, a weighted arm 32, extending obliquely from the upper end of the rocking bracket 26 will urge the friction wheel I setting up means, which is under the control of this automatic operating mechanism just described, it will be noted that the pins l6 are positively elevated and guided by combined means which engage them at their top and bottom ends to insure prompt removal of felled pins from the alley during play as well as to guide and uniformiy return all of the pins to a predetermined arangement upon the alley floor at the termination of each game or frame, or after'a strike has been made.

This combined means, designated generally by t the reference B, includes a plurality of pins i6,

- with each lever, is released by the felling of the pins when struck by balls propelled from the opposite end of the alley. After the projection of a predetermined number of balls, or after a strike has been made, the sockets in the bottom faces of the pins are entered by a group of rods 43, which upstand from a slidably. mounted elevator frame 44, as all of the rods are automatically moved up through apertures arranged in predetermined geometrical pattern in the alley slot 64 aromas door, to their uppermost position'as indicated in Fig. 1. by the power mechanism A. The eleva-.

tor frame 44 is thereafter slowly lowered under 7 the control of a dashpot 4i and with-it the pins it which are allowed to follow the rods 48, with which they are aligned, as the weighted ends of the pivoted levels 40 areslmultaneousl'y raised to again bring the cooperating latching means if and 42 into locking relationship. The pins are thus guided as they are lowered each to its prev control effected by the sequence operations of the switch bl and the ball propelling means I! by an operator. adjacent the panel It.

The ball propelling means comprises primarily a pivotally mounted, manually shiftable and iongitudinally reciprocable gun-like member designated generally at l'l. By reference. to Fig. it will be seen that the propelling means includes a carriage portion 48 having a longitudinal channel 41 in its inner face 48 which is slidablymounted upon a flat strip or rail 49 that extends transversely of the alleyiadjacent the forward end thereof and is attached to the frame at its ends. As is particularly shown in Fig. 4 the carriage 46 is held in slida le relation uponthe by machine screws or the like to the inner face of the carriage above and below the channel.

The carriage member 48 is transversely recessed below its upper surface and vertically bored at its center to, receive and rigidly support a stub shaft I so as to depend into the recess. The inner bored end 52 of the upturned gunoupporting bracket- 53 is swivelly mounted on the stub shaft 5| within the recess for horizontal longitudinally of the barrel t the thickened end wall to a point td'deteed by'the extent of inward sll movement of the loci which is necessary in order to produce the dmired compression ofthe spring for propelling a ball along the alley it. v

A trlggermech 1 compris a bell=crankshaped-latching element at is intermediately piv- I oted within the vertical slot to in the body mem her 58 and springpressed at one side so that its lower end will be yieldablyentended through the slot es in the barrei Wand releasably engage and normally hold the or upper end portion of the piston head 52 of the plunger be against the action of the spring 63 while the opposite trigger acting end portion ofthe latch extends upwardly beyond the slotted body. The upper trigger actrail 49 by a face or bear g plate 60 attached 1 flinging movement thereon relative to the carriage. A locking collar 54 is secured on the lower end of thestub shaft 5| by a set screw 55 to retain the bracket against longitudinal movement upon the shaft. Upon the upper face of the bracket '53 adjacent to and aligned with, its swivelled mounting in the recess of the carriage is formed the upstanding base or body portion 56 of the ball propelling sun which body is transversely bored through its upper portion to slidably receive and support the tubular gun barrel 51 having a spherical operating handle I8 closing .its outer or forward end and a thickened wall portion 59 closing its inner end. A relatively small bore 80 is formed in the thickened wall 59 in alignment with the axis of the gun barrel to slidably receive the ball propelling pin or plunger 8i. An enlarged piston-like head 82 formed on the forward end of the plunger 6| is slidably mounted within the tubular gun barrel 5! between which and the operating handle 58 a coiled compression spring 83 is confined. Above the thickened end wall 59 and its plunger 8| theupper body portion 58 extending into and communicating with the interior of the body bore adjacent the forward end of the thickened wall portion of the gun barrel. Aligned with the slot 64 in the body 58 is a similar slot 65 formed in the upper wall of the tubular barrel]! which latter slot extends is vertically slotted with the charges into the upper .side of the alley, in

log end mrtion of the latch member ti thus projects into the path of a horirontally extending.

tripping rod to which is threaded into the upper inner face of an abutment plate as fined to the gun barrel so as to ove therewith whenever pressure is exerted on the spherical outer end thereof.

While shifting. g and discharging of the ball propelling gun member ll as described, may be accomplished with one hand by the spherical handle end portion 58 of. the barrel 61, more accurate training of the gunmay be effected by concurrently shifting and holding the carriage with theother hand by manual rotation of a knurled knob 10 on the outer end of the shaft 1 I. In order to transmit the desired transverse sliding movement to the carriage from the shaft 1| an arm 12 is rotatable with the shaft and has a pivotedlink connection I3 with one end of the carriage. I

After a ball is propelled down the alley l5 by the mechanism just described it will be returned by gravity to the forward end portion of the apparatus by an inclined chute or runway 14, at one which the returned balls remain stored until dispensed for use.

As shown particularly in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, the

forward end portion of the inclined chute 14 communicates with a specially constructed ball holding and dispensing means 15 the body of which includes an enclosed chute l6 extendingas a continuation of the runway 14. The forward lower end of the chute I6 is open and the forward end surface portion of the body of the dispensing means adjoining the open-ended chute is upwardly and rearwardly curved to provide a ball elevating trackway Tl, the upper end of which adjoins the upper end-of a transversely inclined ball transfer chute I8, which overlies and diselongated grooved surface portion 19. of the gun carriage 48.

By particular reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that irrespective of the extent to which the carriage 46 is laterally shifted or adJusted by the gun handle 58, or theknurled knob III, in the normal operation of the game, by the laterally spaced dot and dash lines 58', the extended upper groovedsurface M underlie the discharge end .of the transfer chute balls therefrom. Hence as balls are successively elevated by the cupped end 80, of the ball elevating arm of the bell-crank lever 25, they will always be delivered to the center of the carriage 46 and against the stop 8| in alignment with the axis of the gun barrel I1, and its propelling angular extent the gun barrel may be swung at the time. upon its as indicated.

portion or 18, to receive the carriage ;;heir inner ends upon a shaft 85 16 adjacent its 80 as shown in Fig.

end 00, of the pivotal support A ball delivered to the carriage and ready for play is thus supported by 46 immediately above the axis of the depending gun swivelllng stub shaft GI and adjacent the forward edge of the alley floor It, where it is held against accidental displacement during the adjustment of the gun and the gun carriage by an upwardly swinging bell crank shaped holding finger bracket upstanding from the carriage 4B. The depending armportion 82' of the ball holding finger 82 extends along the forward upper edge toward one end portion of the carriage 48, as is shown in Fig. 4, so that it may be engaged by a reciprocatable bar 82" many adjusted position of the carriage to swing the ball holding finger 82 about its pivot in the bracket, when the ball propelling means I1 is operated to project the ball.

As the forward end of the chute is only closed by the elevator arm 25 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, ball dispensing stop means is provided to ensure the timed delivery of but one ball at a time to and at all other times to remaining balls storedvin line within the chutes 14 and 16. The ball stop means shown also in Fig. 11 comprises a pair of similar arms 83 and 84 which are independently pivotally mounted at extending transversely beneath the chute juncture with the runway 14. Independent coil springs 06 and 91 depending from opposite sides of the body of the dispensing means 15 are operatively connected respectively to the stop arms 03 and 84 so as to normally retain the forward upturned free end portions thereof within a pair of parallel slots in the lower wall of the chute 16, at its'open end, and with the upturned free ends projecting up into the path of the balls in the chute. As is shown particularly in Fig. 9, the upturned ball engaging end of the arm 84 is of greater width or extent than they corresponding stop portion of the other arm 83 so that it projects forwardly beyond the open end of the chute and into the path of the cupped end- 80, of the ball elevator 25, to be engaged thereby and depressed below the lower wall of the chute 16' when the cup is in its lowermost position to receive a ball from the chute. The ball stop 84 is thus always lowered out of the path of the balls within the chute 10 when the elevator is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figs. '7, 9 and 10. The other ball stop 83, which is not affected by movement of the elevator 25, and its cupped end 80,

the cup 80 stop and retain the ball elevating cup 80, when the to a depending portion will therefore normally operate to prevent the dispensing of balls 9, unless this stop 83 is also lowered out of the path of the balls by positively operated means 89 under the automatic control of the ball propelling gun I1, later to be described.

To insure ejection of balls from the cupped elevator 25, when raised to the upper end of theball elevating trackway 11, an elongated spring biased ball feeding finger 09, pivoted on a bracket at its lower end above the lower central portion of the trackway so that its free end normally rests on the upper end of the trackway, is adapted to enter a slot 90 in the rear and lower faces of the cup 80 to occupy a position beneath a ball, as indicated in Fig. 8. Return or lowering movement of the elevator lever 25 is checked and controlled by a suitable from the chute, to the cup 7 caused tomove upward with the arm dashpot 9| and connecting arm 92 until stop 99 is encountered.

While the game apparatus with the mechanism and means generally described may be played more or less continuously it is desirable to incorporate therewith automatic means which will be operative upon theprojection of each ball and and also after the projection of a predetermined number of balls, by the propelling means I1, to lock the mechanism until reset for further play. For this latter purpose the mechanism may be controlled in a manner similar to other well known coin operated game mechanisms, wherein a coin must first be inserted into a customary slide device, which when then operated, will unlock the mechanism and set the same for another period of play, at the termination of which period, the mechanism is again locked until another coin is inserted and the coin slide again operated. The mechanism which is under the control of the coin receiving and actuating means to control the delivery of balls for play will therefore be described in detail in connection with the ball delivery and propelling means A.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the coin slide plate 94 projects forwardly .from the front panel I4, and is adapted to receive a coin within the cutout portion 95 thereof. With a coin held in the cutout portion, the plate 94 may be pushed into the casing through the panel I4. so as to engage an upstanding pin 96 of the slidable operating member 91, sliding .the member 91 on the fixed support 98 into engagement with a horizontally extending pin 99 on a swingable substantial- 1y T-shaped cam member I00 which is plvotally supported at its lower end on a stub shaft IOI,

of the fixed support 98.

This operation of the slide plate 94 with a coin causes the swingable cam member I00 to move in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot IOI effecting engagement of the cam with a follower roller I02 on the arm I03, which in turn transmits a generally clockwise motion through the shaft I04 to the arm I05 pivotally connected to the upp r end of the vertically depending operating member I06 is thus I05 carrying with it the generally horizontally disposed locking bar I01' by reason of the hook-shaped notch formation I08 formed in one edge of the operating member which is adapted to engage a pin I09 which projects laterally from the bar I01.

The locking bar I01 is pivoted intermediate its ends ona pin I I0 fixed toa bracket I I I extendin from the frame. Upward movement of the operating member I08 with the pin I09 engaged by the hook-shaped notch I08, will cause rotation of the locking bar I01 in a counter clockwise direction about its pivotal mounting H0 and thereby disengaging its stepped forward end portion'I I2 from abutting relation with a locking pin II3 laterally projecting from the lower end portion of the main intermediately pivoted control lever II4, which is shownin locked inwardly inclined position in Fig. 3. When the locking ba'r I01 is thus rotated on its pivotal mounting I I0 a further locking pin I I5. projecting laterally from the bar is lifted verti ally from one of the radial slots I IS in the periphery of a counting and locking wheel lI1-rotatably mounted on a stub shaft H8, so that the wheel I I1 is then free to rotate with the pin H5 supported on the periphery of the wheel H1 and the locking bar I01 held up by its pin I I5 out of registration with the pin I I3.

member I06. The operating and open the switch I22. Opening "causing the bell crank -The now released control lever I I4 is free to,

move about its pivotal connection II9 on the frame, under the influence of spring I20, to as- I06 and at its opposite end .to the frame so as to exert a downward and'forward tension on the member I06 to urge it to rotate in a generally counter-clockwise direction on'itspivotal connection with the arm I05 to hold the notched edge I08 01' the member in engagement with the pin I of the locking bar.

With the intermediately pivoted locking bar I01 rocked to allow the main control lever II 4 to assume a generally vertical operative position'for manually. operating the game mechanism, the inner free end of the bar I 01 is moved downwardly closing the electric switch I22 in the circuit between the manual control switch 31 and the automatic cam control switches 33 and 34, see Figs. 3, 6 and '7. The radial slots H6 in' the counting and locking wheel II1'are spaced around the periphery thereof an angular distance equal to the angle through which the wheel rotates during the playing of a normal game of five frames or the projection of ten balls by the ball gun I1. At the completion of five frames or the normal game for which the counting wheel H1 is designed, the locking pin II drops into a slot II6, thus allowing the locking bar I01 to rotate of the switch I22 terminates play until the insertion of another coin or token and actuation of the coin slide 94.

The manual control of the game apparatus having thus been established the operating switch 31 is first depressed to close the circuit to the motor M and clutch operating relay 30 to cause the cam shaft 2I to make a half revolution and rock the ball elevating crank arm 25 on its pivot I 23 to deliver the ball carrying cup 80 at the forward free end of the crank arm 25 at thetermination'oi a game when the parts are moved into the locked position shown in'full lines in Figs. 3 and 7..

At this time, the main control lever II4 has.

assumed a generally vertical, operative position with its horizontal cross bar I24 adjacent to the inner faceof the abutment plate 69, mounted on first ball, which is always in the.

which frictionallyengages one side of the bell crank I20 under the action of an intermediate cluiiglii acting spring, indicated in dottedlines at It will be understood from the foregoing each inward propelling movement of the gun barrel 51 will cause the control lever II4 to rock on its .pivotal mounting II 3 and by the cam face I26 to cause rotation of the ratchet wheel I30 in a clockwise direction to an extent equal to one notch of the ratchet wheel. At this time a pawl I32, which is pivotally carried by the adjacent face of the peripherally slotted counting, and looking wheel II1 will engage the notched periphery of the ratchet wheel I30 and lock the two wheels together for rotation in the reverse direction a when the control lever I I4 again returns to vertical position and when the operating mechanism A is actuated to deliver a ball or to receive thepins as the case may be. When the operating mechanism A is thus operated an arm I33 depending from shaft I23 will be swung with the shaft and engage one end of a rod I34 which in pr p n .shaft 2I effects the turn engages the lower arm of the bell crank I20 to move the bell crank, the ratchet wheel I30 and the locking and counting wheel "-1 together in a counter-clockwise direction equivalent .to one notch ofthe ratchet wheel.

Each complete inward movement of the gun barrel 51 will cause the release of the compressed spring 63 to project the ball propelling plunger 6I and also cause the upwardly swinging of the ballholding finger 82 by means of the pivotal connection of the reciprocatable upper end portion of the main control lever I I 4 as.

bar 82" to the shown particularly in Fig. 3.

Although several balls may be supplied to playing position per frame or set up of the pins, two

balls are arranged to be supplied for each' said frame. Therefore one complete rotation ofthe operation of the ball elevating mechanism twice, through the two lobe cam 23, and the pin setting up mechanism but once,

through the one lobe cam22. To receive a second and movable with the reciprocatable barrel 51 of the ball propelling gun member I1, and the first ball, indicated at I25, in Figs. 2 and 3, is inposition in front of the gun member, after having been elevated to the transfer trough 18 as shown in Fig. 8. Hence whenthe rounded handle end 58, of the- 'the action of the tension spring I20, the lower end of the control lever H4 is moved outward toward the inner face of the panel I4 and away from the shaft II8. At this time the cam face I26'on the lower end of the main control lever II4 engages a roller I21 journalled at the for- "ward end of the arm I28, of the bell crank I29,

torotate 'in a clockwise direction on the stub-shaft H8 and carrywith it a ratchet wheel I30, also mounted on the shaft,

ball for play it is first necessary forthe operator to press the handle end 58 of the propelling means I1 into the casing to its full extent to project the first delivered ball indicated at I25. This operation, as above explained, rocks the main control lever I on its pivotal support II3 to operate the counting and looking out mechanism. At the same time this inward rocking movement of the main control lever II4 also moves the stop .operating lever '88 which overlies an operative extension arm I35 of the ball stop member 83, depressing it from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10 so as to deliver a ball to the cup 80.

-When the upper end portion I24 of the main control lever II4 isswung inwardly by the abutment plate 60 of the gun barrel 51, from the normal position of these and 9, to the extreme inner position of the lever II4 where the gun barrel is discharged as indi- 16 out of the path termed'iate its ends on cated in both dotted lines in Fig. 5, and in full lines in Fig. 10. It will be noted that the operating lever 88 is now moved downwardly to contact-and depress the operative extension arm I35 of the stop member 83 and thus lower its forward upturned end below the lower wall of the chute of the ball stored therein, as is the stop member 84, at that time. A swinging stop latch I36 is pivotallymounted at I31 inone side of the body of the dispensing means 15 so that its lower end portion parts as shown in Figs. 5 I

cupped end 80 is normally held in abutment with one side of a pin I33 which projects laterally from one side of the operative extension arm E35 by a tension spring I39, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 9. When the stop operating extension I35 and its pin I38 are momentarily depressed to the full extent shown in Fig. by oscillation of the lever 38, the lower end of the spring biased latch member I36 will be freed from engagement 7 with the side of the pin I33 so as to assume a time however the spring biased ball stop member 34 will quickly rise following movement of the cup 80 and prevent the escape of balls from the open end of the chute. As the of the lever approaches the upper end of ball trackway 'I'I it will be caused to engage the inwardly curved upper end portion I" of the latch member I36, swinging the latch member on its pivotal mounting I31 and against the action of the spring I39 so that its lower end will again free the pin I38 and allow the ball stop member 33 to rise and prevent delivery of the next ball held on by the stop member 34 when the cup member 80 again returns to the lower end of the trackway ll.

Hence if a strike is made by the first ball propelled down the alley I5 in any game, repeated operations of the switch 31 and consequent elevation and lowering movements of the elevator and its ball cup 80, without actuation of the propelling means against the action of the return spring I will merely result in the resetting of the pins I3 upon the alley without delivering a further ball to the gun carriage.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a player or, operator of the apparatus upon unlocking of same for play by insertion of a coin or otherwise, may have made available to him a number of balls, for example ten balls. For each two pin set ups, one of the available ten balls will be made ready' for propulsion by the apparatus as above explained so that the game may be divided into five frames of two balls per frame except when a strike is made in one frame and 55 said propelling means, power means including a then only one ball will be delivered for that frame as above explained. Though the operator or player may effect as many pin'set ups as desired,

- Upon completion of five frames during which the ten balls have been propelled down the alley the apparatus automatically locks itself until another coin is inserted or the machine otherwise unlocked for play. The number of balls made available to the player may be modified and also the number of frames to the game may be varied without departing from the invention. For example the apparatus may be readily redesigned to offer balls to the player and the game comprise ten frames of three balls per frame to be played with one set up per frame.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling game apparatus including an alley floor, pin re-setting mechanism adjacent one end 'of the floor, ball propelling means a jacent 2Q pensing balls therefrom,

the other end of the floor and operable to propel a ball along the floor, a ball magazine, means for delivering a ball from said magazine to said propelling means, ball holding and releasing means 5 associated with the magazine and propelling means and actuated by the propelling means for releasing one ball from the magazine to the delivery means on-each operation of the propelling means, and power means independent of said pro- 10 pelling means for actuating said delivery means and pin re-setting mechanism upon successive operations of said power means, whereby the pin re-setting mechanism may be operated to reset the pins after a strike without delivering a ball 15 to said propelling means unless the ball propelling means is again operated.

2. A bowling game apparatus including an alley floor, pin resetting mechanism, ball propelling means, a ball magazine having means for dismeans for delivering balls from said magazine to said propelling means, power means common to the pin resetting mechanism and ball delivery means, said power means r being operative upon each cycle of operationthereof to actuate the ball delivery means and operative upon alternate cycles of movement thereof to actuate the pin resetting mechanism, and means operated by the propelling means for dispensing balls from the magazine to the delivery means upon the completion of a cycle of operation of the delivering means.

3. A bowling game apparatus including .pin resetting mechanism, ball propelling means, means 35 for returning and delivering balls from the resetting mechanism to'the propelling means, power means common to said mechanism and second means, means associated with and operative upon successive operations of said first two means for 40 delivering balls to said propelling means, and

means operable upon predetermined successive operations of said first two means for preventing further operation bythe power means.

4. A bowling game apparatus comprising an alley floor, pin resetting mechanism adjacent one end of the floor, ball propelling means adjacent the other end of the floor, a ball return magazine extending from a point adjacent the pin resetting mechanism to ya point adjacent and below the propelling means, means associated with the,

magazine and ball propelling means for releasing returned balls from the magazine upon operation of the propelling means, means normally positioned adjacent the releasing means for successively receiving a ball and delivering same to rotatable shaft, and means cooperating with the shaft for operating said receiving and delivering means twice and said pin resetting mechanism once upon each complete rotation thereof.

, 5. A bowling game apparatus comprising an alley floor, pin resetting mechanism adjacent one end of the floor, ball propelling means adjacent the other end of the floor, a ball return magazine having a' discharge opening adjacent and released from said magazine, a control lever operable by said propelling means, power means for actuating said ball delivering means and saidv pin resetting mechanism, and means movable with said control lever and ball delivering means for successive operation of said ball release 13 means for effecting release of a ball from the magazine and to said delivering means.

6. A- bowling game apparatus according to claim 5, wherein saidpropelling means includes a carriage, having ball retaining means thereon,

and means operable by the control lever for releasing said retaining meansimmediately preceding the propulsion of the ball.

7. A bowling game apparatus according to claim 5, together with a rotatable counting and locking wheel, means jointly operable by the con- 8. A bowling game apparatus according to claim wherein said ball release means comprises a pair of pivotally mounted arms having upturned free ends normally maintained in slots in the bottom wall of the magazine at its discharge opening, springs connected with said arms for yieldably maintaining them in ball blocking positions, and means carried by the arms for engagement by said means movable with said control and said ball delivering means.

9. In a game apparatus including an alley floor with means 'at the rear end thereof for supporting a plurality of pins and a ball return trough adjacent the alley floor, a ball projector at the forward end of the alley, supporting means for the projector comprising a carriage, means mounting the carriage for sliding movement transversely of the alley floor forward end thereof, means ing the ball projector to the may be swung laterally with pivotally connectcarriage so that it means for delivering a ball to projecting supported position on said carriage vertically above said pivotal connection in all slidable positions of said carriage.

10. In a game'apparatus according to claim 9, together with a shaft rotatably supported below said projector, a manipulating member on said shaft, and a, link connection between said shaft and said carriage for imparting slidingmovement thereto upon rotation of the shaft through manipulation of said member.

11. In a game apparatus including a bowling alley floor, ball'propelling and directing means adjacent one end of the floor, a plurality of pins adapted to be vertically arranged on the floor adjacent the opposite end thereof, means extending longitudinally of the alley for returning balls from one end thereof to the other, means for laterally and angularly adjusting the direction of the ball directing means with respect to and adjacent the respect to the carrlage about the pivotal connection therewith, and

from said trough trackway carried the pins, means associated with the ball return means and propelling means for delivering a ball to said directing means in all of its laterally and angularly adjusted positions, power means under the control of an operator for resetting said pins and concurrently operating said last mentioned means to deliver a, ball to the directing means from the returning means, and means associated with said returning means, delivery means and propelling means for delivering a ball from the re tuming means to the delivery means uponactuation of the propelling means.

12-. A bowling game apparatus comprising an alley floor, a ball return magazine having a discharge end adjacent the forward end of the floor,

a ball holding and 14 dispensing means connected with t. e magazine and including a .chute com- 'municating with said magazine, said ball holding and dispensing means including arms for normally retaining balls in the chute, an arcuate by said ball holding and dispensing means, ball propelling means abovesaid holding and dispensing means and including'a carriage having ball positioning means, a ball delivering means'including a cupped member movable, along said trackway between the discharge end of said chute and said ball positioning means, power means for operating said delivering means, and means sequentially operable by said delivering means and propelling means for actuating said movable arms for successive delivery of balls fromsaid chute to said delivering meansr 13. A bowling game apparatus according to claim 12, together with a spring biased latching member normally holding one of the said movable arms in ball releasing position, said latching member having a curved end portion engageable by said cupped member upon delivery of a ball to said positioning means forreleasing said one of said arms for movement to ball retaining position under the action of spring means connected therewith.

14. A bowling game apparatus comprising an alley floor, a pin resetting mechanism adjacent the rear end of the floor, a ball return magazine extending from a point adjacent the pin resetting mechanism to a point adjacent and below the front end of the floor, ball holding and dispensing means adjacent the front end of the magazine, ball propelling means adjacent the front cad of the floor and above said ball holding and dispensing means, ball delivery means for successively delivering balls. from the ball holding and dispensing means to the ball propelling means, switch controlled power means for jointly operating said pin resetting mechanism and said lever associated pensing means and propelling means and operable by said ball propelling means, means to deliver 9. ball to the ball delivery means for normally lockingsaid control lever in inoperative position with the switch for said power means open, and manually controlled means operative on said locking means for simultaneously rendering said control lever operative and closing the switch for operation of said power means.

16. A bowling game apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said locking means comprises a counting wheel jointly operative by said con- --'trol lever and said ball delivering mean s, uniformly spaced notches in said armed lever, one arm of which is a pin for engagement in .one of said notches in ,he locked position of said control lever, a pin wheel, a twocarried by said control lever and engageable by.

a shoulder on said one lever arm when in locked position, a second pin on said one lever arm, a swingable manuallyelevated unlocking member having a, shoulder engageable with said last pin for lifting said first pin out'of a notch thereby releasing the pin on the control lever from engagement with the shoulder .on said one lever ball delivering means, a control. with said ball holding and disprovided with arm, the other arm of said two armed lever being operative to close said power means switch upon release of said first arm control member.

17. A bowlingv game apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said power means comprises a motor driven shaft, 3, single lobe cam on one end of the shaft, a double lobe cam on the other end of the shaft, driving connections respectively operable by said cams and connected with said pin resetting mechanism and said ball delivering means, a relay controlled drive between said motor and shaft, and cams on said shaft alternately operate on switches for synchronizing the operations of the motor relay and a main motor control switch.

18. A bowling game apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said ball propelling means comprises a laterally movable ball receiving carriage, and a linearly movable ball projector having a vertical pivotal connection with the carriage for projection of a ball laterally of or at an angle to the longitudinal center of said alley floor.

19. In a bowling game apparatus including a bowling alley floor, means operative to condition said apparatus for play including a control circuit, a plurality of bowling pins adapted to be vertically arranged on the floor adjacent one end thereof, pin setting mechanism constructed and arranged to set said pins in vertical arrangement and in a geometrical pattern on said propelling means adjacent the opposite end of said floor and operable to propel a ball'along said floor toward said pins, means operative to deliver balls one ate time to said propelling by said swingable means, means operatively connected between said propelling means and said ball deliverin means and operative in response to operation of said propelling means to control the operation of said delivering means, and means operatively connected between said ball propelling means and said control circuit and operative in response to a predetermined number of ball propelling operations to terminate the playable condition of said apparatusby rendering said control circuit inoperative.

20. In a bowling game apparatus including a bowling alley floor, means operative to condition said apparatus for play including a control circuit, a plurality of bowling pins adapted to be vertically arranged on the floor adjacent one end thereof, electrically operated pin setting mechanism constructed and arranged to set said pins in vertical arrangement and in a geometrical pattern on said floor, ball propelling means adjacent the opposite end of said floor and operable to propel a ball along said floor toward said pins, electrically operated means to deliver balls one at a time to said propelling means, means operatively connected between said propelling means and said ball delivering means and opera tive in response to operation of said propelling means to control the operation of said delivering means, and means operatively connected between said ball propelling means and said control circuit and operative in response to a prede termined number to terminate the paratus by rendering said control circuit in-- operative.

of ball propelling operations CHARLES W. HARTWIG.

playable condition of said ap- 

